By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Christian Simonson rode Indian Rock to a huge personal best score to win Wellington’s Global Dressage Festival World Cup Grand Prix Thursday and a step closer to a start at the championship Final in Fort Worth, Texas in April.
The score of 76.043% for Christian and the 13-year-old stallion was the highest by an American rider since his coach, Adrienne Lyle, posted 77% on Salvino at the same Global grounds three years ago. It was also the highest ever international Grand Prix result for Indian Rock.
Geñay Vaughn, a fellow American, rode the 15-year-old gelding Gino to a score of 70.870% for second place. She is seeking a start at Fort Worth following an appearance at the 2025 Final in Switzerland and looking to increase on her 20 points from a World Cup win in her home state of California.
Sweden’s Caroline Darcourt on Lord Django, 16-year-old gelding, placed third on 69.196%.
“He just felt amazing today,” the 23-year-old Christian said of Indian Rock that he’s been riding since Zen Equestrian bought the horse after the Paris Olympics where Emmelie Scholtens was . “I think each time we’re showing him, I’m learning little bits and pieces more and competed the horse on the Dutch team.
“It’s hard even to describe. He’s just a horse I can depend on so much and it feels like he and I have such a relationship.”
A victory in the Freestyle–that will be the first for this partnership outdoors and under lights at Global–would give Christian and Indian Rock the maximum of 60 points and one of three spots reserved for North America in the starting lineup of 18 combinations from around the world at the annual championship.
Kevin Kohmann is currently the top ranked in North America with 52 points and Benjamin Ebeling second on 49 points, both from the U.S. and each with three competitions. Neither are competing in this week’s qualifier.
This week’s qualifier for the World Cup is one of three in Wellington, while one is scheduled for Del Mar, California at the end of February.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Christian Simonson (USA) Indian Rock |
76.043% | 76.304 | 76.957 | 75.978 | 76.413 | 74.565 |
| 2. |
Geñay Vaughn (USA) Gino |
70.870% | 72.609 | 70.109 | 70.543 | 69.674 | 71.413 |
| 3. |
Caroline Darcourt (SWE) Lord Django |
69.196% | 68.043 | 68.696 | 70.543 | 69.348 | 69.348 |
| 4. |
Ashley Holzer (USA) Hawtins San Floriana |
67.848% | 69.130 | 67.826 | 65.543 | 68.478 | 68.261 |
| 5. |
Michael Klimke (GER) Harmony’s Fado |
67.348% | 67.391 | 66.630 | 66.413 | 69.022 | 67.283 |
| 6. |
Susan Dutta (USA) Don Design DC |
66.304% | 66.739 | 68.152 | 65.761 | 66.739 | 64.130 |
| 7. |
Eline Eckroth (USA) Daphne |
63.826% | 64.891 | 63.261 | 63.587 | 63.587 | 63.804 |
| 8. |
Chloe Gasiorowski (CAN) Sam Donnerhall |
62.130% | 62.391 | 63.043 | 60.761 | 62.065 | 62.391 |
| EL |
Tiago Ernesto (POR) Hobbit Interagro |
eliminated |
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